February 19, 2022
Dear Friends,
As I continue to work to deliver federal resources for the communities and working families of our Capital Region, I want to share some updates on that effort with you.
Ensuring your mail is delivered on time
I’ve heard from many of you about ongoing problems with the mail, from late night deliveries to lost packages and weeks long delays. This is in no way the fault of our incredible letter carriers, post workers and local offices, but stems from a lack of resources and a failure of leadership at the top.
I’ve fought hard to address these concerns, leading my colleagues in August 2020 to demand answers from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about the slowing of services in the midst of a pandemic, and pressing him further on agency-wide directives that closed mail processing plants here in the Capital Region and further slowed urgent deliveries. Just yesterday, I was proud to join Albany residents and elected officials at the temporary Academy Station Post Office, located at 363 Ontario Street in Albany, to call on the U.S. Postal Service to be transparent with residents on future plans for this Post Office site. And last week, I voted to advance the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act to finally get USPS on the solid financial footing it needs to carry out its mission.
Millions of Americans rely on the U.S. Postal Service every day to deliver their lifesaving medications, tax refunds, legal documents, urgent packages, and much more. I will do all in my power to ensure we strengthen this vital service, support our postal workers, and help get your mail delivered on time.
Fighting for crucial federal projects in the Capital Region and beyond
This week, I joined many legislative hearings, including several highlighting key investments from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and discussing how we can best use those investments to support our communities.
- On Tuesday, I led a hearing in the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee that I chair to discuss the importance of restoring contaminated brownfield sites to spur economic growth. 140 million Americans—including many here in the Capital Region—live within three miles of one of these sites. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $1.5 billion in the EPA’s Brownfields Program, delivering vital support that will help our communities grow and thrive.
- I also joined a hearing to highlight the importance of expanding broadband internet services to underserved communities, where I cheered the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $65 billion investment in broadband access, affordability, and adoption. In today’s world of remote work and remote schooling, fast and reliable internet access is a necessity, not a luxury. I’m proud to have fought hard for this funding and I’ll continue to work to ensure all Americans have access to the high-quality broadband service they need.
Have a burning tax question? My office is here to help!
With tax season upon us, my office will be hosting a virtual Tax Season Forum on Wednesday, February 23rd beginning at 6:00 PM!
I’ll be joined by representatives from the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate Service, and the Trinity Alliance Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program who will be on hand to answer your questions. This event will provide a chance to receive vital information and updates on issues like available tax credits and deductions like the Recovery Rebate Credit and the Child Tax Credit, free tax filing assistance, and more.
The event will be streamed live on my Facebook page.
- If you don’t have a Facebook account or prefer to listen by phone, you can join the forum by dialing 1-646-828-7666: Then, enter the following codes:
I’m honored by the opportunity to be your voice in Washington and to fight on your behalf. While I’m encouraged and proud of the progress we’ve made, there remains much work to be done. I will not stop fighting until we have delivered the game-changing investments our Capital Region families and communities need.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Russia’s recent buildup of forces on the Ukrainian border has caused great concern in that region, for our European allies and for Americans residing in Ukraine. As President Biden and his administration work around the clock alongside our allies and partners to achieve a diplomatic solution to the crisis, I want to share some resources from the U.S. State Department with you:
- As a precaution, the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Advisory asking Americans not to travel to Ukraine and urging those Americans currently in Ukraine to depart immediately via commercial or private means.
- U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance in Ukraine should complete this online form and the State Department will respond.
- U.S. citizens who decide to remain in Ukraine and not depart immediately as advised should also complete this online form so the State Department may communicate better with you.
- U.S. citizens should be aware that in the event of a Russian invasion anywhere in Ukraine, the U.S. government will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens, and the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide consular services would be severely impacted. For more information, please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas.
